Anyone got any tips on how to make good ones??? I have been looking on-line at these (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230212088401&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013) really cool cat shaped beaded ones, but I figured they're just beads, and there's a good bead shop in town that might have something nice in it, so what to use as the metal loopy bit??? What is it about pet owners that we all become obsessed by novelty items in the shape of our animals....

Here's a thread started by Art Lady with a tutorial on how she makes her stitch markers. It's quite a long thread with lots of photos. She includes pictures of the tools she uses to shape the markers as well.
http://www.knittinghelp.com/forum/showthread.php?t=62912&highlight=stitch+markers